Feb. 19, 2010

Toledo Box Score | Charlotte Box Score

Charlotte, N.C. - Sophomore Bernadette Tenuto (Audubon, N.J.) went 3-for-6 and drove in five runs as Stony Brook University's softball team split its first two games of the 2010 season at the Charlotte First Pitch Classic on Friday. Behind a 12-run first inning, the Seawolves defeated Toledo, 14-0 in five innings, before falling to Charlotte, 5-2.

Senior Alyssa Struzenberg (Cooper City, Fla.) threw a no-hitter against Toledo, striking out eight of the 18 batters she faced. She was given a 12-run cushion by the Seawolves offense, which recorded eight hits in its first inning of the season. Eight of the first nine batters reached base safely with the first six all scoring runs. Tenuto delivered the big hit of the inning, driving her first career home run over the left field fence.

Stony Brook would go scoreless over the next two innings, but Tenuto drove in two more runs with two out in the fourth with a double to center field. She was one of four Seawolves to drive in multiple runs in the game.

In the circle, Struzenberg was sharp, retiring seven straight batters at one point. She issued just three walks and allowed only four fly-ball outs.

Following the offensive explosion, SBU managed to put just three runners on base over the first three innings of the game against Charlotte. In the mean time, the 49ers put a pair of runs on the board, highlighted by a solo homer in the second.

Stony Brook would answer in the top of the fourth as it loaded the bases with one out on a pair of walks and a single by junior Brijette Martin (New York, N.Y.). Senior Katelyn O'Donnell (Kingston, Mass.) then hit the first pitch she saw for a single, driving in two runs and knotting the score.

However, Charlotte would add three more runs on a pair of doubles in the bottom of the fifth to move back on top for good. O'Donnell's single in the fourth would end up being SBU's last hit of the game as Charlotte's Emily Jeffery recorded three of her 12 strikeouts to help the 49ers hold on for the win.

Stony Brook will face St. Francis (Pa.) tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. Depending on the outcome of that game, the Seawolves will play in either the 3:00 or 5:00 p.m. semifinal game.